"Tick Tock" was rejected from the Born to Run album. Springsteen cited laryngitis.

ASBURY PARK, New Jersey -- When searching for material for an upcoming box set of his E Street Band's B-sides and rarities, Bruce Springsteen came across a long lost gem which became a huge hit for Ke$ha in 2010.

Springsteen has leaked a song he wrote in 1975 entitled "Tick Tock." It is best known for the 2010 cover by Ke$ha.

Springsteen wrote on his official website:

"This girl K££sha (sic) reminded me of a song we wrote back in '75. It was the original version of 'Tick Tock,' which we decided not to include on Born to Run. I kept thinking it had the potential to be a big hit, but I wasn't quite happy with the finished product. Plus, I had laryngitis, which is why my singing craps out. I wasn't happy with my laryngitis singing, not that anyone would know the difference, since I sing with a gravelly voice anyway."

The Springsteen version is an 8-minute-plus piano ballad that also highlights the saxophone work of the late Clarence Clemons, who died last year after suffering a stroke. It is played a half-step higher than the Ke$ha version, in the key of E♭ minor.

Some of the lyrics differ from the Ke$ha version:

Wake up bright and early in the morning
Feeling like Bob Dylan, grab my guitar
I'm out the door, you know I'm gonna hit this city
Before I leave, brush my teeth with a bottle of Jack
'Cause when I leave for the night I ain't coming back

I'm talking "Big Man" Clarence* blows, blows
Playing one hell of a show, show
I'm hangin' out with my bros, bros
Oh, yeah
Playin' our favorite LPs
Goin' up to the parties
Tryin' to get a little bit tipsy

Don't stop, make it rock
Darlin' blow my speakers up
Tonight, gonna fight
Till we see the sunlight
Tick tock on the clock, but the party don't stop
No, no, no, no
Whoa, whoa, whoa, oh

Don't stop, make it rock
Darlin' blow my speakers up
Tonight, gonna fight
Till we see the sunlight
Tick tock on the clock, but the party don't stop
No, no, no, no
Whoa, whoa, whoa, oh

Ain't got a care in the world but I got plenty of beer
Ain't got no money in my pocket but I'm already there
And now the girls are linin' up 'cause they hear we got swagger
But you know, we kick 'em to the curb 'cause they think I'm Mick Jagger

Everybody getting drunk, drunk
Steve** 'n' I play with spunk, spunk
Gonna smack him if he getting too drunk, drunk
Cops gonna shut us down, down
Cops gonna shut us down, down
Cops gonna shut us down, down
Give it up for the Big Man!

(Saxophone solo)

(Piano interlude)

Don't stop, make it rock
Baby blow my speakers up
Tonight, gonna fight
Till we see the sunlight
Tick tock on the clock, but the party don't stop, no
No, no, no
No, whoa, whoa, oh

Don't stop, make it rock
Darlin' blow my speakers up
Tonight, gonna fight
Till we see the sunlight
Tick tock on the clock, but the party don't stop
No, no, no, no
Whoa, whoa, whoa, oh

You build me up
You break me down
My heart it pounds
You got me

With my hands up
You got me now
You got that sound
You got me

You build me up
You break me down
My heart it pounds
You got me

With my hands up
Put your hands up
Put your hands up

"Now the party don't start till Bruce walks in!"

Don't stop, make it rock
Darlin' blow my speakers up
Tonight, gonna fight
Till we see the sunlight
Tick tock on the clock, but the party don't stop, baby
No, whoa, whoa oh
Whoa

Don't stop, make it rock
Baby, blow my speakers up
Tonight, gonna fight
Till we see the sunlight
Tick tock on the clock, but the party don't stop, darlin'
Oh, whoa, whoa
One more time, Big Man

(Outro saxophone solo)

—"Tick Tock" lyrics by Bruce Springsteen

*Clarence Clemons, saxophone
**Steven Van Zandt, lead guitar

The song will be included in an upcoming box set of B-sides and rarities by the singer and his E Street Band, and will be available on BruceSpringsteen.net until April 2, 2012 along with complete lyrics.

When asked about his opinion on the Ke$ha version, Springsteen replied, "No, no, way too much Autotune," and then joked, "You know, I could use some Autotune myself," then burst into his trademark laugh. "Nah, I'd kick my own ass if I did that shit. Her version ain't my cup of tea, but I appreciate her getting my song out there for people to hear, though that Autotune shit gets on my nerves. But at least she wrote Britney Spears's "Till the World Ends." Now, there's a quality pop recording." And yes, he was being serious.